Feliz Año Neuvo & Joyeux Noel (noch einmal)

Today's been a great day! We are in Zion National Park staying at our favorite Springhill Suites. We picked up Brooklyn and Talia in Provo on our way down, so the whole family is together which feels amazing! Since everyone is busy working on homework or work-work, I figured I'd snuggle in to my cozy bed and catch up on the blog a bit.

Thought I was done blogging our fabulous New York adventure? So did I. But here are a few more fun photos from our New Year's Eve flight back to Salt Lake. I can't remember if I wrote about what a miracle it was that all twelve of us made it without any major flight delays or lost luggage. Our budget flights even got consolidated from being small groups with multiple itineraries to all of us flying on the same plane both directions. What tender mercies! When you think about it, air travel of any sort is truly incredible.

Pickles enjoyed some time out of her luggage during our layover in O'Hare.

As soon as she popped out of the bag Anders popped in.  Gosh I love this kid!

The Chicago airport boasted this University of Illinois sculpture. As Illini alums, Jason and I naturally needed a photo.

Here's Anders taking in the sights before boarding our final flight home.

Back in Salt Lake, we relaxed for a bit before heading over to our bishop's home for a New Year's Celebration. The party was primarily for the youth, but most of them had other plans so the Buell family invited our whole crew to join the fun.

And fun it was! Between chocolate fondue, a pinball machine, games, marshmallow roasting, and a charcuterie board, it was a spectacular way to end 2025. Thank you Buells!

The next morning, our jet-lagged travel crew gathered again to celebrate "Second Christmas" on New Year's Day. Packages, ribbons and family all in abundance...this was a delightful way to ring in 2026.

I'll let the pictures tell the story.

With her long blonde hair, Brooklyn's bestie Lily sure looks looks like family!

And with that, we really do wrap up Christmas 2025 Thanks to all for the epic holiday season! There may be hard things happening in the world around, but love still shines bright.